Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau attending G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting in Japan

From: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

News release

May 9, 2019 – Ottawa, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The Government of Canada is committed to expanding market opportunities to reach its goal of $75 billion in annual agri-food exports by 2025. Today, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau departs for Japan to participate in the G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting in Niigata and to build stronger relationships with our trading partners to help grow the economy and create good, well-paying jobs for Canadian farm families.               

This year’s G20 meeting will focus on three core themes - innovation, value chains and the sustainability of the sector. Minister Bibeau will work with her fellow G20 Agriculture Ministers to find new ways to foster innovative technologies and practices that will help farmers prosper, reduce food waste, and mitigate their impact on climate change. 

While in Niigata, Minister Bibeau will take the opportunity to meet with officials from various G20 countries to advance Canada’s agricultural trade interests and discuss new ways of diversifying into markets that have emerged through Canada’s recent free trade agreements. With the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) now in force, Canada is the only G7 nation that has free trade agreements with all other members across the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific.

The Minister will conclude her visit in Tokyo where she will meet with key Japanese industry organizations from the grains, oilseed and meat sectors to emphasize the mutual importance of rules-based trade and the countries’ long-standing partnership. Canada is committed to exploring opportunities to open new markets for Canadian agri-food products, including canola. Japan is an important partner in the CPTPP, and represents one of Asia’s fastest growing economies. 

Quotes

“The G20 provides an excellent forum for discussing emerging issues affecting the agriculture and agri-food sector. With my counterparts from the world’s major economies, we will discuss the importance of a reliable and science-based international trading system, global animal health issues and innovation.  I will promote our high-quality Canadian products and the commitment of our producers to maintain our competitiveness in global markets.”

- Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“We all benefit from an open, transparent and rules-based multilateral trading system. Canada remains committed to increasing trade by diversifying into new markets, particularly the thriving Asia-Pacific region. We will continue to work with the canola sector to identify new opportunities for their high-quality products and my upcoming trade mission to Japan and South Korea will strengthen our connections in the region.”

- Minister Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification

Quick facts

  • The G20 is a forum of the world's major economies that meets to develop policies to address the world's most pressing challenges. It is made up of 18 countries besides Canada, as well as the European Union. The 18 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

  • In 2018, Canada exported nearly $4.6B in agriculture and agri-food and seafood products to Japan.

  • The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is one of the largest free trade agreements in the world –11 countries representing nearly 500 million people, with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of $13.5 trillion, or 13.5% of global GDP.

  • The CPTPP will eliminate tariffs on all canola products exported to member countries within five years, opening up an estimated $780 million in new sales annually.

Associated links

Contacts

Justine Lesage
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
justine.lesage@canada.ca
613-404-1168 (Cell)

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@canada.ca
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